Finn Opens in St Kilda

This cheerful addition to diverse Carlisle Street does top-notch brunch with a Nordic twist.

Photography: Tom Ross

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Photography: Tom Ross

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Photography: Tom Ross

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Published on 12 August 2014

by Tessa Connelly

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Finn opened three weeks ago and is co-owned by chef Marcus Wilson and his Finnish wife Laura Winter, whose roots inspired both the name and the Scandinavian undertones of the cafe.

Finn does all-day brunch with a combination of the familiar and a handful of original dishes too. The rustic breakfast board couples traditional fare with haute cuisine, such as granola, boiled egg and hummus, duck rillettes, salmon, cheese and a baguette. A glance around the cafe reveals the most popular dish is the chewy sourdough topped with mixed-milk feta, slivers of smoked salmon and surprisingly refreshing smashed peas.

Located in a quiet block on Carlisle Street opposite the St Kilda Town Hall, the exterior of Finn is modest. The interior is clean and airy. But despite its Scandinavian theme, it is is not as consciously minimalist as many of its counterparts in Melbourne. The large buckets of fresh produce in the corner aren’t just for show – a kitchen hand ducks out occasionally to grab a lemon, a beetroot.

Lining the wall is a rustic wooden trestle perfect for communal dining. Private tables are arranged with enough elbow room between them for leafing through the Sunday paper.